Let’s do this. A grassroots movement is calling on Americans to abstain from shopping with major retailers all day Friday, February 28th, as part of an “economic blackout.” This protest calls on consumers to avoid all unnecessary purchases, either in-person or online, from midnight Thursday through midnight Friday, local time. No spending for 24 hours! The idea is to hit them in the profits. And this gives people who can’t take part in the protests or marches another way to participate. Behind the boycott is a group called The People’s Union USA, a self-described grassroots organization founded by John Schwarz. Here is their helpful what-not-to-do list:
Do not make any purchases. Do not shop online, or in-store.
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy. Nowhere!
Do not spend money on: Fast food, gas, major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.
Do not use credit or debit cards for nonessential spending.
If you must spend, only support small local businesses . . . with cash.
One day doesn’t seem like much? The People’s Union USA has other targeted economic actions planned for after the blackout including week-long blackouts against specific retailers, including Amazon, Nestlé and Walmart. That could inflict real pain.
(And attention reporters and newsreaders: Stop blaming rising prices on inflation when it is corporate greed, price gouging, price fixing, and collusion. Robert Reich explains it all in this enraging video. Unfortunately, he was speaking last summer at a time when Democrats were actually initiating legislative solutions. I doubt any of that is still in the works.)
Axios has more.
Economic Blackout, 12:01am to 11:59pm, Friday, February 28